Pacers' George Hill among five inducted into Indianapolis Public Schools Hall of Fame

Oct. 4, 2012

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Julia Lacy, middle, accompanied her grandchildren, Ellis and Jose, to the IPS Hall of Fame luncheon Thursday. Julia's husband, Andre B. Lacy, is a 2012 inductee, but he did not attend the event. / Cathy Kightlinger / The Star

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The Pacers starting guard George Hill says he felt like any other kid when he attended Broad Ripple High School.

But Hill certainly wasn't any other man four years after his 2004 graduation. Instead, he was a first-round NBA draft pick of the San Antonio Spurs.

And Hill, who was traded to the Pacers last year, certainly wasn't any other man to a room full of Indianapolis Public Schools supporters Thursday when he was one of five inductees into its Hall of Fame.

"I stand here as a living witness that anything is possible," Hill, who couldn't attend personally, said in a video message. "It was in the walls if IPS I learned the type of person I wanted to be."

Including this year's class, the city's public school system has inducted 57 into the ranks of its Hall of Fame, which includes iconic author Kurt Vonnegut, artist Robert Indiana and Late Show host David Letterman.

So far, Hill's alma mater is among the top IPS high schools to contribute to the ranks of the Hall of Fame. But Shortridge High School has the most names on the list,18, followed by Crispus Attucks, with 10.

Other new inductees Thursday were: Dr. Richard B. Gunderman, a 1979 graduate of Thomas Carr Howe High School and professor and president of the faculty at the IU School of Medicine; the late Z. Mae Jimison, a 1961 graduate of Shortride High School and the first African-American woman to serve as a Marion County Superior Court judge; Andre B. Lacy, a 1957 graduate of Shortridge and Chairman of the Board of Lacy Diversified Industries and Maria M. Quintana, a 1973 grad of Arsenal Technical High School and executive vice president at JPMorgan Chase.

Lacy, who also could not attend, sent his wife, Julia, and grandchildren, Ellis and Jose, who are current IPS students, to accept the honor in his place. The children attend Sidener Academy.

"I think they are having a wonderful experince," said Julia.

In his message, Andre Lacy said he chose to attend Shortridge in the 1950s rather than the private school where his parents wanted him to enroll.

IPS Superintendant Eugene G. White and a contingent of the school system's students on hand for the Hall of Fame luncheon, too.

White said he hopes the inductees inspire the students.

"I hope they can translate that they want to be special someday," said White, adding that the lunch is one of the best activities the school system holds each year.